Mine car



Jan 4, 1938. w. D. HOCKENSMITH, JR 2,104,395

MINE CAR Filed May 28, 193] 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fi l lfh l i Hf lhlln F Jan, 4, 1938. w. D. HOCKENSMITH; JR

MINE CAR 5 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed May 28, 1931 INVENTOR Patented, Jan. 4%, 1938 entree STATES PATENT @FFEQE 25 Claims.

This invention relates to mine cars, and in particular to improvements in the construction thereof.

One object of this invention is to produce a mine car having novel means for securing the car in a rotary dumping mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved bumper construction for a mine car.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for detachably securing the axles to the body of the car.

A still further object is to provide an improved type of draft bar for a mine car.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mine car of the rotary dump type wherein the maximum capacity is secured for any given overall width.

These and other objects which will be made readily apparent to those skilled in this particular art are accomplished by means of this in vention, one embodiment of which is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a car constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the mine car.

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the car.

Fig. 4: is a view in end elevation of a car constructed in accordance with a modification oi my invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the end of the car shown in Figure 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are partial views illustrating modifications of the side wall construction.

Fig. 8 is a view in transverse section taken on line XX of Fig. l; and

Fig. 9 is a detail view in section through the end of the axle showing the relative position of the axle, axle housing, floor, and axle clamp.

In the several figures of the drawings, like reference characters refer to like parts of the structure.

Referring to the drawings in detail, In designates sill members of a mine car which form the underframe of the mine car. The sills NJ may be of any suitable form or shape in section, but as shown in the drawings, they are preferably in the form of bulb angles. The sills lil extend lengthwise of the car and are located adjacent each other throughout the central portion of the car. At the ends of the car, the sills i i diverge or spread apart forming a fan or wedge-shaped space therebetween, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

The floor of the car is formed of plates l l which are riveted to the base of the sill members If). Extending transversely of the car and projecting upwardly from the floor plates H are U-shaped axle housings I2, the legs of which are flanged outwardly and are secured to the plates l. The bottoms of the sills H] are cut away, as shown in Figure 1, to receive the axle housings i2. Axles it are positioned in the housings i2 and have wheels !4 rotatably journaled thereon. The wheels M project upwardly through openings formed in the plates H. Housings or hoods l5 cover the wheel openings in the floor plates.

The portion of the axles i3 between the wheels i l and the sides of the car are covered with U- shaped housings I2a, the legs of which are flanged outwardly and secured to the floor plates H between the hoods l5 and the side walls of the car.

As is readily seen from this construction, the wheels I4 which extend upwardly through the floor, cannot be removed by sliding off the axle it as in the ordinary type of mine car heretofore used. In order that the wheels It may be readily removed from the car, I hold the axles H3 in the housings l 2 with clip members It which are bolted to the floor plates II by bolts 51. When it is desired to remove the wheels Hi, the bolts H are loosened and on raising the body of the car the axle i3 and wheels 54 are permitted to drop out of the housings l2, and Ma and hoods l5.

To protect the ends of the car from being battered during usage, bumping members !8, formed of wood or any other suitable material, are provided which are positioned in the wedge shaped spaces between the sill members H]. The bumping members iii are of the same shape as the spaces between the ends of the sill members Ill, and consequently, the shock of one car bumping against another tends to wedge the bumpers firmly in place therebetween. From this construction it is apparent that I have provided a novel bumper for a mine car which will successfully withstand the shocks imparted thereto in usage, and which eliminates the need of the heavy, cumbersome, longitudinally extending planking ordinarily used in mine car construction. The outer surface of the bumping members 18 are protected by caps l9. Plates 20 secured to the sill members 10 over the bumping members l8 prevent the same from being spread further apart by the bumping action.

The side walls of the car are formed of plates 2| which are secured to longitudinally extending angle members '22 fastened to the floor plates H. The endsof the car are formed of plates 23 which are secured to an angle member 24 extending transversely across the floor plates H at the ends thereof. The side plates 2| and end plates 23 are tied together by vertically extending angle members 25 forming a boxlike body for the car. So that the car may be received in a rotary dumping mechanism the upper edges of the side plates 25 are offset or rolled inwardly as at 26 to form longitudinally extending inwardly projecting surfaces 2? which engage the dumping mechanism (not shown) and a vertical continuation 2m of the main body of the side wall. By rolling the upper edge of the side walls inwardly to form a bearing surface for cooperating with the rotary dumping mechanism to hold the car therein, I have eliminated the longitudinally extending and outwardly projecting angle members which are commonly provided on mine cars of the rotary dumping type, materially increasing the inside dimensions of the car, and consequently, the capacity of the car without increasing the overall width thereof. The vertical continuation Zia prevents the coal from projecting over the dump engaging surface 21 and thereby prevents clogging in the dump. The rolled edges 26 of the side walls also act as side braces r stiffening members for the car.

When a car is in use in a mine, the draft bar carrying the coupling pin through which one car is connected to another, is liable to be bent so far out of position that it is impossible to couple the car to another. Therefore, I have provided an improved type of draft bar which will withstand a greater bending force than any of the draft bars now in common use.

To couple the car to another, I provide a draft bar 36 which is secured to the plate 20 and has one end projecting through the end wall 23. The edges of the projecting end of the draft bar 39 are bent downwardly so as to form a bar arcuate in section. The projecting end of the bar has a coupling pin 3! extending therethrough for coupling the car to a train of cars. A supplemental draft bar 32 mounted below the bar 30 and having an opening therein through which the coupling pin 3! extends, may be provided if desired. By making the projecting end of the draft bar arcuate in section, it is apparent that I have provided a draft bar that cannot readily be bent out of its coupling position.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a mine car constructed in accordance with a modification of my invention, which differs from the construction already explained, in that the sill members iii which extend through the center of the car and have their ends spread apart at the ends of the car, are continued to the side walls ll of the car instead of ending adjacent the end walls 23. Bumping members l8 are positioned between the spread ends of the sills Ill which are prevented from further spreading by a plate member hen the sill members i0 extend to the side walls 2| of the car, the end plates 23' may be secured directly to the upper portions thereof.

In other words, the sill members ID are positioned in abutting relationship for a substantial distance and may be considered to be a singular member having outwardly bifurated or concave portions at each end thereof.

While I have shown the sills H3 in this modification as having a double bend and extending to the sides of the car, it is to be understood that the sills may be adjacent each other for the full length of the car with the ends bent at right angles to the body of the sills so as to be flush against or adjacent the end walls for the full width of the car. In such a construction the bumpers would be secured directly to the bent ends of the sills.

While I have shown a mine car in which upper edges of the side walls are rolled inwardly, to brace the car and form means for engaging a dump, it is to be understood that the inwardly extending projection may be formed in any other suitable manner such as fastening suitably shaped bars along the upper edges of the side walls. As shown in Figure 5, the inwardly extending projection may be formed from an angle or a Z-bar, one leg of which is riveted to the top of the side plate. Fig. 7 illustrates another shape or form which may be secured to the upper edge of the side wall.

In a mine car constructed in accordance with my invention, the load is distributed evenly on all portions of the axles and not at one or two points on the axles as in the cars heretofore used, because the axle housings closely engage the axles throughout the full width of the car.

It is readily apparent from the foregoing description that I have constructed a mine car which has an increased capacity which is relatively light in weight and which is sufiiciently sturdy to withstand the severe abuse incurred in usage.

It is further apparent that I have provided a bumping member of the V-type for a mine car which cannot be forced backwardly into the car which cannot work loose or drop out of the bumper frame and which protects the ends of the car from being battered as well as the ordinary bumper formed on the ends of heavy planking extending the full length of the car.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mine car comprising a pair of axles, center sills extending longitudinally of said car and supported on said axles, the ends of said center sills at each end of the car being flared outwardly, a floor suspended from said center sills, wheels on said axles extending through openings formed in said floor, hoods covering the wheel openings on said floor, bumping members between the flared ends of said center sills, a draft bar having its outer end of arcuate section projecting from the end of the car, side walls extending upwardly from said floor having upper edges thereof projecting inwardly, and means for removably securing said axles to said floor.

2. A mine car comprising a pair of axles, sills extending longitudinally of said car and supported on said axles, a floor secured to said sills and having transverse axle openings therein, wheels on said axles extending through openings formed in said floor, axle housings covering the transverse openings in said floor on each side of said wheel openings, hoods covering the wheelopenings in said floor, and side walls extending upwardly from said floor having longitudinally extending horizontally offset portions terminating in vertical continuations provided with a rolled upper edge.

3. A mine car comprising arpair of axles, longitudinally extending center sills supported on said axles and having their outer ends flared outwardly, a floor suspended from said sills, wheels on said axles extending through openings formed in said floor, hoods covering the wheel openings in said floor and wedge-shaped bumping members positioned on the floor between the flared ends of said sills and projecting beyond the ends of said car.

4. A mine car comprising a pair of axles, 1ongitudinally extending center sills supported on said axles and having their outer ends flared outwardly, means for preventing said sills from spreading, a floor suspended from said center sills having transverse axle openings therein, wheels on said axles extending through openings formed in said floor, axle housings mounted in the transverse openings in said floor between said wheel openings and on each side thereof, hoods covering the wheel openings in said floor, and bumping members between the flared ends of said center sills.

5. In a mine car, the combination of center sills extending lengthwise of said car, and having their ends flared outwardly, a floor suspended from said sills, and a bumping membermounted on said floor between the flared ends of said sills at each end of the car.

6. In a mine car, the combination of center sills extending lengthwise of said car and having the ends thereof bent outwardly and extending to the side of said car to form the end sills thereof, and a bumping member supported between the outwardly bent ends of said sills.

'7. In a mine car, the combination comprising a'floor having wheel openings therein and transversely extending axle openings between and on each side of said Wheel openings, axle housings covering the axle openings in said floor, axles mounted in said housings, and extending substantially the full width of the car, wheels on said axles intermediate the ends thereof projecting through the wheel openings in said floor, wheel housings covering the wheel openings in said floor and clips bolted to said floor for removably securing said axle in said axle housing.

8. In a mine car, the combination comprising a floor having transversely extending axle openings and wheel openings intermediate the ends of the axle openings, housings mounted in said axle openings between and on each side of the wheel openings, axles disposed in said housings, and means for removably securing said axles in said housings.

9. In a mine car, the combination comprising a floor having Wheel openings and axle openings therein between and on each side of said wheel openings, axles extending substantially the full width of the car, wheels on said axles projecting through the wheel openings in said fioor, wheel hoods covering the wheel openings in said floor, inverted U-shape axle housings mounted in the axle openings in said floor between and on each side of said Wheel openings and forming bearing surfaces for said axles, and means for removably fastening said axles in place in said housings.

10. In a mine car, the combination of central- 1y extending sills having outwardly flared ends, a floor suspended from said sills and having spaced axle openings therein, axle housings secured in said floor openings and countersunk in said sills and members disposed on said floor within said flared ends to form bumpers for the car.

11. In a mine car, the combination of a longitudinally extending centrally disposed sill member having a bifurcated portion at each end thereof, a floor suspended from said sill and having spaced transversely extending openings therethrough, axle housings secured in each of said openings and countersunk in the sill member, and .wheels mounted on said axles.

12. In a mine car, the combination of a longitudinally extending and centrally disposed sill member having a bifurcated portion at each end thereof, the ends of said bifurcated portion of the sill being flared outwardly and bent to extend substantially the full width of said car for supporting the end members of said car.

13. In a mine car, the combination of 'a centrally disposed longitudinally extending sill member, having a bifurcated portion at each end thereof, the ends of said bifurcated portions of said sill being flared outwardly and bent intermediate of their length so that they extend transversely to the sides of the car.

14. In a mine car, the combination of a centrally disposed longitudinally extending sill member having a bifurcated portion at each end thereof, the ends of said bifurcated portions diverging and terminating at the sides of the car, a bumping member disposed between each end of said bifurcated sill, and a floor suspended from said sill and supporting said bumping members.

15. In a mine car, the combination of a centrally disposed longitudinally extending sill mem her having a bifurcated portion at each end thereof, the ends of said bifurcated portions diverging and terminating at opposite sides of the car, a bumping member disposed between each end of said bifurcated sill, and a draft bar positioned within the bifurcated ends of said sill and extending therefrom.

16. In a mine car, the combination of longitudinally extending center sills, a floor suspended from said sills, axle openings in said floor, axle housings in said openings countersunk in the bottom of said sills, axles journaled in said axle housings, wheels mounted on said axles and projecting through openings in said floor, and housings for covering the wheel openings in said floor.

17. In a mine car, the combination of longitudinally extending centrally disposed sills, said sills being adjacent throughout the central portion of the car and diverging near the ends thereof, a floor suspended from said sills having side walls and end walls secured thereto, said floor having spaced transverse axle openings therein each of which is provided with spaced enlarged portions intermediate the length thereof constituting wheel openings, an individual housing for each of said wheel openings, axle housings in said transverse axle openings disposed between the wheel openings and between the side walls of the car and the wheel openings, the housings between said wheel openings being countersunk in said center sills, axles mounted in said axle housings extending substantially the full width of the car, and wheels mounted on each of said axles intermediate of its length and extending through the wheel openings in said floor.

18. In a mine car, the combination of longitudinally extending centrally disposed sills, said sills being adjacent throughout the center of the car and diverging near the ends thereof, a floor suspended from said sills having side walls and end walls secured thereto, said floor having spaced transverse axle openings each of which is provided with spaced enlarged portions intermediate the ends thereof constituting wheel openings, an individual housing for each of said wheel openings, axle housings in said transverse axle openings disposed between the wheel openings and between the side walls of the car and the wheel openings, the housings between said wheel openings being countersunk in said center "fills, an axle mounted in each of said axle housings of substantially the same length as the width of the car, wheels mounted on each of said axles intermediate the length thereof and extending through said wheel openings, and means located between the wheels and the sides of the car for removably securing said axles in said axle housings.

19. In a mine car, a pair of axles of a length substantially equal to the width of the car, a pair of wheels mounted on each of said axles intermediate the ends thereof, a car body of substantially box construction mounted on said axles and having a substantially fiat floor disposed in a plane below the tops of said axles and provided with axle and wheel openings and inverted U-shaped axle housings of substantially the same width as the diameter of the axles covering the axle openings between and on each side of said wheel openings.

20. A mine car comprising a box-like car body having a substantially fiat floor provided with transversely extending axle openings and enlarged wheel openings intermediate the side edges thereof, inverted U-shaped housings secured to said floor and covering the axle openings on each side of and between said wheel openings, axles journalled in said housings, wheels on said axles projecting upwardly through the wheel openings in said floor and hoods secured to the floor for covering each of said wheels, said hoods being spaced from the sides of said car and from each other to provide lading spaces therebetween and on each side thereof.

21. A mine car comprising a car body having a substantially fiat floor provided with transversely extending axle openings and enlarged wheel openings intermediate the side edges thereof, a pair of axles for said cars having wheels mounted thereon intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to project up through the wheel openings in said floor and means for supporting said floor on said axles between and on each side of said wheels.

22. A mine car comprising a car body having a substantially flat floor provided with transversely extending axle openings and enlarged wheel openings intermediate the side edges thereof, a pair of axles for said cars having wheels mounted thereon intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to project up through the wheel openings in said floor, means for supporting said floor on said axles between and on each side of said wheels, and means for covering the portion of the wheels projecting into said car body.

23. In a mine car, a central sill extending longitudinally of saidcar, and a floor suspended from said sill having axle and wheel openings therein, said sill having a portion of its lower section cut away intermediate the ends thereof for receiving a car axle.

24. In a mine car, a car body having a floor, a pair of axles extending transversely of said car body for substantially the full width thereof, wheels mounted on said axles intermediate the ends thereof and projecting upwardly through openings in said floor into said car body and leans for suspending said body from said axles between and on each side of said wheels whereby the floor on each side of said wheels is located below the tops of the axles and in a plane intersecting the lower portion of the wheels.

25. A mine car comprising supporting axles, wheels mounted on said axles, a .car body supported on said axles and having a substantially flat floor provided with transversely extending axle openings having enlarged sections to receive the wheels mounted on said axles, said enlarged sections being spaced from the sides of said car and from each other, housings covering the axle openings in said floor between and on each side of said enlarged sections and housings covering the enlarged open sections in said floor.

WILBUR D. HOCKENSMITH, JR. 

